Sunday, 8 February 2009

Think I made mention to the fact that I was gonna cut down on tables, and it was going ok. I was certainly improving in my hand reading and hence my NSD winnings were improving at a steady rate. However, I still couldn't consistently show any improvement in SD winnings. I really don't know what's going on in that department, as it was such a strong part of my game.

I had opened up 4 tables of 6max early last week, and within 100 hands, I had lost 3.5 buy ins. The hands are un-important, but needless to say I was running very bad. I took a break for an hour or so, then I remembered something Vanq said. He was talking to me about HU 'n stuff so I thought 'In for a penny in for a pound'.

So since that day I have played solely Heads Up at 100nl on Paddy Power. At the moment I'm 2 tabling, and have got about 9k hands in so far at this level. The play is absolutely shocking I have to say. Things are going really well over this small sample, but I'm trying to play a low variance type of game, if that makes sense. The way I do it is basically just play really aggro in position. The regs are pretty tight to say the least so basically I just raise atc otb. They just give up like a high % of the time, so it's free money really. You'd be amazed at how nitty they are.

Then you get another type of reg who like to think he's thinking on level far beyond their ability. But they just bluff away there stacks liker there's not tomorrow. And then we have the ATM's who basically play over rolled and are looking for a quick spin up. They seriously are atrocious, along with most of the short stackers as well tbh.

So enjoying winning again, I hope it continues, but I won't post an update on my winnings until the end of month summary. In the meantime I'll just throw up some posts on how it's going with some hands as well.

Oh by the way, I was supposed to be having my coaching session last week, but unfortunately I was too ill for it. So I'll have to re-arrange that some time in the near future.

Sunday, 1 February 2009

Since the last update I've now placed 1/2 my roll at Paddy Power poker (Ipoker network) and managed to get an ok deal there. Basically I get a $600 deposit bonus (and boy do I need that atm!) and I get promoted to the top of their VIP status, which apparently brings me something in the region of 33% rakeback equivalent at 6max. Obviously I have yet to confirm this, but if it's someway below that figure, then I'm dumping Ipoker pretty quick as the software can only be desribed as SHITE!

My first weeks play there has pretty much gone the same was as most of my January.... constantly getting my money in behind to the likes of JJ v qq, qq v kk bollocks a host of flipping with AK.

The sense of delight I felt after getting unstuck at 30k hands was truly inspirational almost. Then to go on another soul destroying d/swong, 2 in the space of 40k hands, well you can't even imagine the absolute dejection I feel atm.

What Now?

Well the beauty of being a bankroll nit is that I have been able to plan for days like this. I still have like 50 buy ins at 100nl, so there's still something to play for. But, I seriously CANNOT have any more months like this..... So I have to change something.

I had already taken measure before I spoke to Vanq earlier this week, but something he said actually hit home for a change. I know it's also been said my numerous other ppl on CC as well.

PLAY LESS TABLES!

I made moves into actually getting some coaching as well, and I spoke to my coach earlier this week and he basically told me he want me to play 2 tables of 6 max from now on.... and no more than 4. Basically Vanq said as much as well. So I tried it yesterday and I'm going to play 4 tables max for the whole of February.

So I'm looking forward to Tuesday as this will be my 1st session of 5 I have booked with him. He's a Deuces Cracked coach and has some really great reviews by his students and peers, and after speaking to him last week he seems a great guy. He plays 1 & 2knl and he has a degree in Mathematics so I'm sure he can teach me a thing or 2. If after this series of coaching sessions I cant improve at 6max, then it's time to re-evaluate my poker goals. So February is really gonna be an important month for me pokerwise.

Any Positives?

Well yes there are.

I can't remember how but a couple of 10nl guys on CC actually approached me for some coaching/sweat sessions. 'LOL' I hear you say :). Well believe it or not they went surprisingly well. I've had around a 8 sessions with Jurn8 and just the one with The Shrog. Jake's game has come on leaps and bounds since we 1st started and his results have been extremely consistant. He's already upto 25nl and seems to be running well there so I hope he'll be upto 50nl by the end of the month.

Brad's only session with me, proved he already has the foundations to become a really good cash game player, and I hope he wants to some more sweats in the future. Jake has mentioned that he believes I could do some coaching (micro stakes), and tbh I feel I can look at other's game's better than I can analyse my own, but I don't want to go down that road until I sort myself out, so maybe in the future. For now I'm more than happy just helping out the 5-10nl guys out should they seek my advice (when I have the time). Oh and Custo if your reading this..... I haven't forgotten you m8!

Oh and BTW, thanks for everyone who posts in the comments giving me support.... It really does help and means a lot. GL all!

About Me

I started playing poker in summer of 2006. I made several unsuccessful deposits on Ladbrokes, PartyPoker, Pokerstars and just about every other poker site going. Then I discovered Cardschat and 2+2 poker forums and started to actually learn poker theory.
In Spring 2007, I made a $200 deposit on Pokerstars with my new found knowledge, I thought I had a chance at this game. I played the $10 sng's and quickly increased my balance upto $1500.
After realising my future belonged with cash games, which took quite some time to make the transition, I began playing them seriously at the start of 2008.
Hence this blog, 'Champagne Supernova'. 2008 was always going to be a Supernova year, and it was a great year. Lets hope 2009, will be an amazing one!